Matthew Poole and continuators on 3 John 1

2 Beloved, I wish above all things, that thou mayst prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth .

This Gaius was well known by the Apostle, not only to be a stedfast Professor of the truly Christian uncorrupted Faith, (which is imply'd in his avowing his Love to him in the Truth, or upon the Christian account) but to be so improv'd, and well-grown a Christian, that he reckons he might well make the prosperous State of his Soul, the measure of all the other Prosperity he could wish unto him.

Marginal references: Or, pray.

4 I have no greater joy then to hear that my children walk in truth.

i. e. Such as had been converted to Christ by his Ministry, (as 1▪ Cor. 4.15.) of whom it appears Gaius was one, did walk in the Truth; (an apt Expression of such correspondent Practice) was greatest matter of Joy to this holy Apostle, especially when the godly Lives of such, to whose Conversion he had been instrumental, were so observable, as to gain them a Testimony from all others that knew them, as it was in the present Instance.

The Truth is familiarly used to signifie the pure Doctrine of Christianity, which in its principal Design, aiming at correspondent Practice; that his Children,

5 Beloved, thou dost faithfully whatsoever thou dost, to the brethren, and to strangers.

Charity to Christians is reckon'd Fidelity to Christ, being shown to them upon the Christian Account, which is intimated to have been done by this pious Person, who so kindly treated the Brethren, and Strangers, i. e. even tho they were Strangers.

6 Which have born witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort , thou shalt do well.

i. e. After a manner (as the Greek Expression is) worthy of God, viz. as becomes them, who bear the Name of God, as thou dost, or are intent upon his Work, as they are; which latter notion is confirmed by what follows.

8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow-helpers of the truth.

It thence appears these were Iews, who went out from their own Country to serve the Interest of the Gospel, which therefore he should serve in helping them.

10 Wherefore if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

This was probably some Church of which Gaius was. Dio[illegible: 1 letter]rephes, one who had received, or usurped some Office or Authority in it, to so ill a purpose, as when he had no Inclination to be hospitable himself to fellow-Christians, prevented others from being so; and upon pretence of the little differences of these Iewish, from the Gentile Christians, excluded them their Communion.

11 Beloved▪ follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doth good , is of God : but he that doth evil hath not seen God .

[non-Latin text not transcribed]: By following here he means Imitation, i. e. the Deformity of evil appearing in the Practice of some, and the Beauty of true Goodness in others, (Examples being given of both sorts, v. 9, and 12.) he exhorts to decline the former, and imitate the other; and enforces the Exhortation by the weightiest Arguments.

A Doer of good, one made up of Kind[illegible: 1 letter]ess and E[illegible: 2 letters]ignity (as the Context draws the sense to that special kind of Goodness, [non-Latin text not transcribed] & [non-Latin text not transcribed], signifie doing well or ill, from a fixed prevailing habit, 1 Iohn 3.7, 8.

Is ally'd to Heaven, born of God, his Off-spring.

An evil Doer on the other hand, such a one as is a Composition of Spite, Envy, and Malice, is a meer Stranger to him, hath not been, or known, or had to do with him.

Marginal references: Psal. 37.27. Isa. 1.16. 1 Pet. 3.11.

12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth it self: yea, and we also bear record, and ye know that our record is true.

Some eminent Christian, whom he could with confidence recommend as a Pattern.

13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee.

Having much more to say, as 2 Iohn 12. he resolved on a more immediate, grateful, and effectual way of imparting, and even impressing his Sense, as the term, Writing, is used in a greater latitude, Prov. 3.3. and elsewhere.

14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face . Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

[non-Latin text not transcribed], viz. by oral Conferenc[illegible: 1 letter], which he hoped ere long to have opportunity for. He concludes with the usual Christian Salutations.

Marginal references: Gr. mouth to mouth.